Sunday 7 October 2012

PIA News Dispatch - Saturday, October 6, 2012


Palace says government anti-graft fight continues

Malacanang said it remains committed to fighting graft and corruption in the country in the midst of reports that the Philippine government lost more than P101 billion to graft last year.

“We have never become complacent when it comes to pursuing anti-graft and anti-corruption measures,” Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview Saturday over state-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

Media reports, citing data from the Commission on Audit (COA), said a huge amount of public money was lost to several forms of graft by which public funds are stolen, misused, or mishandled.

But Valte clarified that the media made a wrong conclusion in making the report after obviously citing just one report when in fact there are other datas made available by the COA.

“It seems that nagkaroon ng conclusion doon sa isang parte nung report nila na automatically just because there were some audit findings biglang ang conclusion it was lost to graft,” Valte said.

Citing COA chair Ma. Gracia Pulido-Tan, Valte said that the financial loss mentioned in media reports did not necessarily result from graft, as it is only the courts that can make such a judgment.

Valte also noted it was clear from the COA report that unliquidated cash advances mentioned in December 2011 were accumulated from prior years. PND (as/1:02pm)


Schools must follow NDRRMC advice for safer educational tours, says Malacanang

Malacanang said schools must follow the recommendations of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) asking for clear rules before schools allow students to go on educational tours.

The NDRRMC issued a statement following the recent tragedy in Boracay Island where a student drowned during an educational field trip.

“Magandang bagay ang hinihingi ng NDRRMC para maisama naman ang disaster preparedness. Dapat matagal na panahong pinaghahandaan,” Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday.

“Maganda na masimulan sa mga estudyante natin, sa mga mag-aaral na bata pa lang na alam na po nila at maidikdik natin sa kanilang pag-iisip kung ano ang kailangan for disaster preparedness.”

The NDRRMC said schools must have rules in place to prevent a repeat of the Boracay incident noting that students joining field trips must be briefed on the risks when going swimming or hiking.

Schools must also instruct students to look for the nearest tourist assistance center for help if there are emergencies, the NDRRMC noted. PND (as/2:41pm)